Coca-Cola is looking at getting into the cannabis-infused drink business. You won’t be able to get high off the drink since it uses a non-psychoactive component (CBD) in marijuana. Nevertheless, the story is garnering a lot of media attention and Coca-Cola says the industry has significant potential. You can read more about the story here.
Ask your students to put together a marketing strategy for the new Coke drink. Who do they define as the target market? Why? Students often see themselves as the largest market segment for products that they like and this can be a good opportunity to push them to think more broadly. Beyond the target market, what would their marketing mix look like? How would they treat the cannabis component? Would they downplay it or make it front and center? Why? Would they have to implement new logistical processes or distribution channels? There are many different directions you could take this discussion.
Brick-and-mortar retailers like Target, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy have been struggling to find ways to stay relevant in the new Amazon age. After trying to make incremental changes to stem losses, these retail giants are now realizing they have to make fundamental changes to their marketing and business strategies if they want to survive. CNN Money recently reviewed Target’s efforts, and results, in 
Amazon is a retail juggernaut. Last year the company was responsible for 5% of total US retail sales (online and offline). Their growth and expansion seems unstoppable at the same time that we see other iconic retailers (Sears, JC Penney, Radio Shack, Payless Shoes, etc.) struggling to stay alive. Given the convenience and potential for cost savings it’s easy to say that the future of retail is online and brick-and-mortar establishments are a thing of the past but this FastCompany article,”
Every few months there is an article about the end of the brick-and-mortar retail era. Chain after chain disappear, often citing Amazon as the primary driver.